If you are into outdoor and sports-related activities, you will definitely enjoy Mexico! There are lots of outdoor activities in Mexico. Apart from skiing, I cannot think of any outdoor activity you cannot do here. Climbing, cycling, diving, playing golf, hiking, horseback riding, bird watching, parasailing, surfing, fishing, swimming, rafting, golfing, kayaking, skydiving, mountain biking, it is all possible in Mexico. It’s also less expensive to do outdoor activities here than...
If you are into outdoor and sports-related activities, you will definitely enjoy Mexico! There are lots of outdoor activities in Mexico. Apart from skiing, I cannot think of any outdoor activity you cannot do here. Climbing, cycling, diving, playing golf, hiking, horseback riding, bird watching, parasailing, surfing, fishing, swimming, rafting, golfing, kayaking, skydiving, mountain biking, it is all possible in Mexico. It’s also less expensive to do outdoor activities here than in North America or Europe.
Here in Oaxaca there are many nice routes to go hiking or cycling. In my free time I go hiking in the mountains, and sometimes we stay over one night in a cabin with amazing views over the mountains. It’s a pure serene environment, this is so beautiful! In Chiapas there are many special hikes you can do in the jungle, which can be 4 hours till 5 days!
Another outdoor activity I often do is sightseeing. I visit villages outside Oaxaca and visit families to see how they live. Many people in the villages survive on making handicrafts and it´s amazing to see what a beautiful crafts people make and they mostly only use natural materials. Black, red, green or colorful pottery, woven rugs dyed with natural colors, wooden colorful figures called Alebrijes, jewelry made with natural stones, candles made of beeswax are just some examples of handicrafts.
You can also go boating if you go to the coast of Oaxaca. You can rent a boat to go fishing, or just to see animals! All year round, you can see dolphins, turtles and manta rays. Whales you will only see 4 months a year, from November till February/March.
If you like adventure, zipline is another outdoor activity in Mexico that you can do. There are different places in Mexico where you can admire the nature while having an adventure on a zipline! I have ziplined twice. In Oaxaca and in Chiapas. In Oaxaca it is very nice because of its mountains. In Chiapas, I ziplined close to my favorite waterfall. It was my first experience with a zipline. My parents came to visit me and me and my father decided to go for it. I was a bit scared because it was quite high. And guess what happened I didn’t make it to the end! I was almost at the other side, but I did not have enough speed and slowly moved backwards. Underneath me was the river and the waterfall to my right. I saw the people telling me what to do, but the waterfall was making so much noise I could not hear anything. So I just kept hanging on and hoping they would solve it! Of course all went fine because they had an extra line and they pulled me to the other side. It was a memorable first zipline experience at the Chiflon, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Chiapas!
(Boating on the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico, pictured.)
What is Portugal's gun ownership policy and gun laws?
Carol Bartlett Ribeiro - Carol Bartlett Ribeiro, Property Consultant
In order to have a gun in Portugal, you have to have a license. Foreigners can own guns in Portugal.
Most of the people who have guns in Portugal, and how gun ownership started is that the guns were for hunters for the hunting season, but there are very strict rules for that.
The actual details of what would be required to get a license to have a gun and what it would cost, I don’t know. The reason...
In order to have a gun in Portugal, you have to have a license. Foreigners can own guns in Portugal.
Most of the people who have guns in Portugal, and how gun ownership started is that the guns were for hunters for the hunting season, but there are very strict rules for that.
The actual details of what would be required to get a license to have a gun and what it would cost, I don’t know. The reason is we don’t really discuss guns very much apart from if you see on television that they’ve arrested people because of drugs or something similar. Apart from that, fortunately, at this point in time, I think when you see what’s going on in the world, we feel reasonably safe without guns.
(1934 photo of a hunter in Peralcovo, Portugal, pictured.)
What's the crime rate against Americans and other expats in Ambergris Caye?
Lisa McCorkle Guerrero - DIAMANTÉ
I don’t think there’s any crime rate per se directed to expats or Americans on Ambergris Caye. We do have petty crimes like any other place that you live where you have to be careful, be smart, and don’t go walking down the streets or down the beach at 2 or 3 AM in the morning. This is the same anywhere where you live, not just here.
There are no major crimes and definitely not directed towards Americans. Out tourist industry has...
I don’t think there’s any crime rate per se directed to expats or Americans on Ambergris Caye. We do have petty crimes like any other place that you live where you have to be careful, be smart, and don’t go walking down the streets or down the beach at 2 or 3 AM in the morning. This is the same anywhere where you live, not just here.
There are no major crimes and definitely not directed towards Americans. Out tourist industry has always been directed mostly towards US and Canadian citizens, so we’re not like other places in the world where they hate Americans.
(Pictured to the right are two of my favorite fishing guides in Belize, Manny and Cliff, showing off their catch that day.)
How's the economy in the Panama City, Panama suburb of Fort Clayton / Clayton?
Michael Pierce - Latinlaw
Panama's economy in the Panama City, Panama suburb of Fort Clayton is booming. Since Panama gained control of Clayton, the value of homes there has escalated markedly. Military homes, which were initially sold to Panamanians and Americans, have now tripled and quadrupled in value from $80,000 initially to $300,000 and above.
Clayton is highly valued by its residents for its spacious, well kept environment, its close proximity to the US Embassy,...
Panama's economy in the Panama City, Panama suburb of Fort Clayton is booming. Since Panama gained control of Clayton, the value of homes there has escalated markedly. Military homes, which were initially sold to Panamanians and Americans, have now tripled and quadrupled in value from $80,000 initially to $300,000 and above.
Clayton is highly valued by its residents for its spacious, well kept environment, its close proximity to the US Embassy, Balboa International Academy, and at least 4 other top notch private schools.
Clayton is also blessed with the "Ciudad de Saber" - the City of Knowledge which has many international universities registered there, many of them doing research and teaching. The City of Knowledge also has business "incubator" facilities which are mainly focused on high tech innovation for the benefit of Panama.
Clayton has major thoroughfares, some still in construction, which will connect this community rapidly with all important sites in Panama City. Albrook Mall, the largest shopping center, probably in all of Latin America, is within a 5 minute drive of Clayton.
Clayton is now a community unto itself, with all the amenities, business and shopping that one would need to comfortably live in Panama. Paitilla Hospital and Punta Pacifica Hospital are easily reached in a 15 to 30 minute drive.
Security in Clayton is above average and improving every day. Clayton is populated mainly by upper-middle to quite rich families who are all actively involved in their community and who meet frequently to assure that their standard of living is not diminished. Most of the foreign diplomats at the US Embassy in Clayton also have their homes there.
A wide range of single and multiple family homes are available for rent or sale. Most of the homes will start at $250,000 and some are being sold for over a million dollars. Condos, such as those next to the US Embassy are available - starting at around $350,000.
All in all, for those wanting to reside in a peaceful, US - like small community, Ft. Clayton is my best choice.
How much do restaurants cost in Granada, Nicaragua?
Paul Daemen - Aurora Granada
What the cost of restaurants are in Granada depends where you go to eat. If you go to the entertainment center also known as the Calzada, expect to pay tourists prices, which if you compare to the rest of the food available is pricey to say the least. It's best to venture outside of the Calzada.
We also recommend the little towns around Granada to eat at such as Diria Mirador and Catarina Mirador. Or venture out to Masaya and you will find very good food...
What the cost of restaurants are in Granada depends where you go to eat. If you go to the entertainment center also known as the Calzada, expect to pay tourists prices, which if you compare to the rest of the food available is pricey to say the least. It's best to venture outside of the Calzada.
We also recommend the little towns around Granada to eat at such as Diria Mirador and Catarina Mirador. Or venture out to Masaya and you will find very good food at reasonable "local prices" The food options are too many to mention but we try to find a new restaurant at least once a month to try something different. So far only one bad experience.... so go out and try Nicaragua cuisine!!! and enjoy....
What should I be most concerned about regarding retiring abroad?
Allen Rosen - Chiriqui Coastal Real Estate
The number 1 challenge you will encounter if you retire overseas is ...... you. That's right, you. You will arrive in your new country. You will find things you like and you will find things you don't like. Maybe things that drive you crazy. You can pull your hair out at these things.Or you can spend all day complaining to other expats. Or you can pack your bags and go back to your old county. Or .... you can decide to adapt to your new country and its different customs and habits.
...
The number 1 challenge you will encounter if you retire overseas is ...... you. That's right, you. You will arrive in your new country. You will find things you like and you will find things you don't like. Maybe things that drive you crazy. You can pull your hair out at these things.Or you can spend all day complaining to other expats. Or you can pack your bags and go back to your old county. Or .... you can decide to adapt to your new country and its different customs and habits.
The point is: it's about you, not them. It's about whether you are the sort of person who is flexible enough to adapt to a new culture. This will be your greatest challenge moving overseas and the issue you should be most concerned about.
From an interview with Armando Contreras, July 7, 2016
Jet: Your real estate office and home are in the little, beach side town of Lo de Marcos, in Nayarit, about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta. Please tell us about Lo de Marcos
Armando: The first time I saw Lo de Marcos, it was empty, but it had so much charm and was such a welcomed change from crowded and overbuilt places I had been living, that I liked it so much, I...
Beautiful Playa Venao has been my passion for many years,
and this is the area I moved to a long time ago, in 1985. I was lucky to get to know Panama from the "inside out", being exposed to the folklore of the Los Santos Province and its music and festivities.
Getting to know some deep traditions was the highlight of my move abroad, my kids growing up in a sane and safe environment with Spanish being...
He nailed it- though one need not be an economist or financial 'expert' to see the blindingly obvious.
Free market principles are unfeasible in practice. Adam Smith in the 1770's made the [then] reasonable assumption that resources were inexhaustible but with the Industrial revolution and a world of 7 billion consumers, we realised this is no longer true. So the free market is a myth and increasingly outside interference has become unavoidable. The...